New Delhi: India is preparing to celebrate World Sparrow Day on Thursday, March 20, 2025. This initiative was launched by ‘Nature Forever’, a bird conservation organisation, in 2010 to spread awareness about these small birds that were so common in and around households till a few decades ago. The Day is celebrated through several events in 50 countries.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi lending support since 2017, the Government of India has also started making efforts for the sparrow’s conservation across the country. Sparrows are small but significant birds that play an essential role in maintaining ecological balance. They help control insect populations by feeding on various bugs and pests. Additionally, sparrows are key players in pollination and seed dispersal. Their presence enhances biodiversity, making them crucial for the health of both rural and urban ecosystems.
Despite their importance, sparrows have been disappearing at an alarming rate. Several factors contribute to this decline. The use of leaded petrol releases toxins that harm insects, sparrows depend on for food. Urbanization has also taken away their natural nesting spaces. Modern buildings lack the spaces sparrows need for nesting, reducing places to raise their young.
Additionally, pesticide use in agriculture has reduced the number of insects, further impacting sparrows’ food supply. The increasing presence of crows and cats, along with the lack of green spaces has added to the problem. These factors, along with lifestyle changes have made it difficult for sparrows to thrive.
There have been some inspiring efforts to protect sparrows and bring them back into our lives though. One such initiative is the “Save the Sparrow” campaign led by environmental conservationist Jagat Kinkhabwala. He emphasizes the need to balance development with environmental protection.
Other remarkable initiatives are the involvement of schoolchildren in building small wooden houses for these birds by the Koodugal Trust in Chennai and the ‘Early Bird’ campaign in Mysuru, Karnataka. Between 2020 and 2024, the Trust built over 10,000 such ‘nests’, leading to a rise in sparrow numbers, while the ‘Early Bird’ campaign helped create awareness among children.